Sgt Conor Egan, Carlow Community Policing Unit, Sgt Fiona Fitzpatrick, Carlow, Honoria Gilchrest, Carlow Women’s Aid, John Brophy, Manager Fairgreen Shopping Centre
Gda Essmay Murphy, Carlow Community Policing Unit, Mark Dunne, SETU Student Union President, Sgt Conor Egan Carlow Community Policing Unit, Ciara Byrne, SETU and Roisin Shanahan, Senior Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, SETU
Staff in SETU supporting An Garda Siochána’s campaign against domestic violence
By Elizabeth Lee
THE boys and girls in blue were out in force to raise awareness of their Go Purple Day.
The Go Purple Day is an initiative where An Garda Síochána partners with domestic abuse support services to raise awareness about domestic abuse and domestic abuse support services available locally.
This initiative, which was first organised by An Garda Síochána in 2020 to help strengthen community partnerships between domestic abuse services and the gardaí, has developed into what is now a national day to raise domestic abuse awareness. This year’s Go Purple Day, led by An Garda Síochána and the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB), took place on Friday 3 May.
Garda Annette Phelan and Insp Elaine Dalton with staff members of the Bagenalstown Resource Centre at the information stand in Lidl, Bagenalstown
Carlow gardaí hosted several events and information stands across the county, where they were supported by local domestic abuse support services, including Carlow Women’s Aid, Amber Women’s Refuge, and the Men’s Domestic Abuse Support Service in Bagenalastown Family Resource Centre. The Community Policing Unit also held an event in SETU’s Carlow campus, where they partnered with the equality, diversity and inclusion office to host an information stand.
Other initiatives by Carlow gardaí included information stands in Bagenalstown, at Hickson’s SuperValu, Tullow and in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow town.
Sgt Conor Egan of Carlow Community Policing Unit said: “Go Purple Day encourages everyone to wear purple in support of those who are the victims of domestic violence and abuse. We want to encourage people to take the first step if you need help. Please remember, if you or someone you know is suffering domestic abuse or violence, you are not alone. We are here to help you. Phone 112 or 999 or call in to your local garda station, where you can speak to a member of An Garda Síochána in confidence.”
